Robert C. Helmer is an American academic who became the ninth president of

Baldwin Wallace University Baldwin Wallace University (BW) is a private university in Berea, Ohio. It was founded in 1845 as Baldwin Institute by Methodist businessman John Baldwin. The school merged with nearby German Wallace College in 1913 to become Baldwin-Wallace Co ...

Berea, Ohio Berea ( ) is a city in Cuyahoga County in the U.S. state of Ohio and is a western suburb of Cleveland. The population was 19,093 at the 2010 census. Berea is home to Baldwin Wallace University, as well as the training facility for the Clevela ...

, on July 1, 2012. He served as the first president of Baldwin Wallace University after the school became a university in 2012. Helmer became president after

Richard Durst Richard Durst is an academic administrator who served as the eighth and last president of Baldwin-Wallace College located in Berea, Ohio. He became president in 2006 and remained until 2012. Durst was replaced by Robert C. Helmer in July 2012 as ...

who served since 2006. In 2024, Helmer announced his retirement, effective June 30th. The University established an Office of the President while the School searches for a new President. Helmer has been temporarily succeeded by Interim President and Provost Dr. Thomas C. Sutton

Education

Helmer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic university, Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend, Indiana, South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin fo ...

, a PhD from

Marquette University Marquette University () is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Henni, John Martin ...

, and

Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice l ...

from the University of Toledo College of Law. His scholarly interests are in early Christian origins and apocalyptic literature.

Career

Helmer has served as president and faculty member at

Lourdes University Lourdes University is a private Franciscan university in Sylvania, Ohio. Established in 1958, the university is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania. History In 1916 Mother Adelaide Sandusky traveled from Minnesota to Northwes ...

Sylvania, Ohio Sylvania is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. The population was 19,011 at the 2020 census. Sylvania is a suburb of Toledo, and encompassed by Sylvania Township. Its northern border is the southern border of the state of Michigan. T ...

, from 2003 to 2012. Helmer started at Lourdes in 1996 as a faculty member and was appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs in 2001. Prior to Lourdes in 1996, Helmer was a teaching fellow and research assistant at Marquette University from 1991 to 1996. As well, an adjunct professor at Indiana University from 1990 to 1991 and Ancilla College from 1987 to 1989. Helmer has served as a member of the board of trustees of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Sylvania Chamber of Commerce, Flower Hospital, United Way of Greater Toledo, the Toledo Symphony, and Imagination Station.

Personal life

He and his wife, Linda, have two daughters, Clare and Abbie, and live in the President’s House on the Baldwin Wallace University campus with their dogs.

External links

Encyclopedia of Baldwin Wallace History: Robert C. Helmer

References

Living people Presidents of Baldwin Wallace University University of Toledo alumni University of Notre Dame alumni Catholic University of Leuven alumni Marquette University alumni Year of birth missing (living people) {{US-academic-administrator-20C-stub